Animal Tattoo Ideas

Animal tattoo ideas are depictions of human desire to be as free as them in thought and being. Read on to know what animal tattoo designs mean.

Mukta Gaikwad

Last Updated: Jan 21, 2019

Tattoos are a style statement, fashion trend and an imprint of a cause close to your heart. With an increasing awareness about animal rights and also because of affinity towards certain animals, many people are seen sporting animal tattoos. Many even get tattoos of their pets. Animal tattoo ideas come with deeper meaning and sentiment.

Several animal tattoo designs have a religious or mythological connotations too. Animal tattoos go beyond the land ones. They extend to birds and aquatic life too. A few also get insects drawn on their bodies. Though these designs are complicated to make, they remain an inspiration for both, the artist and the wearer too.

The Lion

Lions have been religious symbols in many cultures. The structure of a lion and his characteristics symbolize, leadership and powerful position.

A lion represents royalty and superiority of position. Known as the King of the Jungle, a lion tattoo stands for bravery and valor. It also represents leo, one of the zodiac signs.

The legend has it that Hercules had the strength of ten lions and he wore a lion cape and headdress. A lion tattoo symbolizes courage, attitude, protectiveness and fairness while dealing with others.

The Butterfly

Butterfly tattoo designs are indicators of the influence of tattoo making on women. These design are delicate and exude femininity.

Butterflies are signs of transformation, beauty and mystery as they keep fluttering from flower to flower in search of the sweetest nectar. Their colors speak of joyous moods and emerging beauty.

The characteristic phenomenon of a butterfly to metamorphose itself from a caterpillar to a gorgeous butterfly represents a girls transformation into a graceful woman.

The Phoenix

Images of a phoenix are widely used by many tattoo lovers and artists. However, little is known about this mythical bird, that refused to leave the paradise and abstained from the forbidden fruit.

A phoenix is known to live for 500 years and builds a nest of aromatic twigs when it gets tired. The bird sets its abode on fire to be consumed by a self made funeral pyre. Within three days, a phoenix rises from the ashes and is reborn as a new soul.

Many who get a phoenix tattoo interpret this as a process of overcoming hurdles in life and emerging as an edified person. It is a symbol of grace, virtues, victory over evil (represented by death).

The Dragon

A dragon tattoo is very commonly seen imprinted on the skin. This unisex tattoo comes from the far eastern Chinese culture, where this mythical creature is a symbol of four elements, namely, fire, water, earth and wind.

A dragon represents the saying 'what nurtures also destroys'. They stand for supernatural and majestic powers of celestial beings. Over the ages the folklore about dragons show dragons to be creatures of exceptional strength, power, courage and fortitude.

The Unicorn

Unicorns are mythical animals. This creature with magical healing properties symbolizes utopia. This tattoo design represents purity, peace, love and marital fidelity. The legend has it the untamed unicorn can only be mounted by a true maiden.

Animal Tattoos and their Meaning

Bird - Free as a bird

Scorpio - Regeneration

Hawk - Fearless and Majestic

Owl - Insight, Foresight and Wisdom

Eagle - Freedom, Spirited and Illumination

Raven - Other World

Fox - Clever

Dolphin - Intelligence,Harmony, Social Nature

Cat - Agility, Freedom and Fidelity

Horse - Freedom, Strength and Movement

Dragonfly - Imagination, Creativity, Inspiration

Voltaire said, 'Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills'.

The quote sums up the essence of choosing animal tattoo designs perfectly. It is because humans hold an innate desire to be as free in though and sentiment as animals, we pick these mute creatures as tattoo designs to represent our hidden wants.